Method for configuring a luminaire system and device for use therein

Abstract

A method for configuring a luminaire system comprising a first device and a second device, and a control line between said first device and said second device, wherein said second device is configurable to send and/or receive signals through the control line to/from the first device using any one of a plurality of different protocols, and wherein said first device is configured to use one of the plurality of different protocols, the method comprising: measuring at least one value representative for an impedance of the first device as seen from the control line, such as a voltage and/or current at the control line; based on the at least one measured value, selecting a corresponding protocol of said plurality of protocols; and configuring the second device to use the selected corresponding protocol.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for configuring a luminaire system comprising a first device and a second device, and a control line between said first device and said second device, wherein said second device is configurable to send and/or receive signals through the control line to/from the first device using any one of a plurality of different protocols, and wherein said first device is configured to use one of the plurality of different protocols, the method comprising the following steps controlled by the second device:
 a) determining at least one value representative for a characteristic of the first device as seen from the control line; and   b) based on the at least one determined value, selecting a corresponding protocol of said plurality of protocols; and configuring the second device to use the selected corresponding protocol,   wherein the second device is configured to switch between a listening mode and a steering mode, said listening mode being a mode in which the impedance of the second device as seen from the control line allows performing the determining of step a) and said steering mode being such that signals in accordance with the selected protocol can be exchanged between the second device and the first device, and wherein the second device is put in the listening mode for performing step a) and put in the steering mode after step a).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step a) comprises measuring at least one value representative for an impedance of the first device as seen from the control line. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of protocols comprises an analogue dimming protocol and a digital dimming protocol, and wherein the step of measuring at least one value comprises measuring a voltage on the control line; and
 wherein:
 step b) comprises, if the measured voltage is above a predetermined second threshold, setting an analogue dimming protocol; and if the measured voltage is below a predetermined first threshold, setting a DALI dimming protocol, wherein the second threshold is higher than or equal to the first threshold; or 
 step b) comprises any one of:
 if the measured voltage is above a predetermined first threshold and below a predetermined second threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold, setting an analogue dimming protocol; if the measured voltage is above the second threshold or below the first threshold, setting a DALI protocol, 
 if the measured voltage is above a predetermined first threshold and below a predetermined second threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold, setting an analogue dimming protocol; if the measured voltage is above the second threshold or below the first threshold, setting a DALI protocol, wherein if the measured voltage is below the first threshold, the second device connects the control line to an internal power supply so that the control line is powered. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises listening for an electric signal on the control line and determining at least one value for a characteristic of said electric signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step a) comprises emitting a test signal according to a first protocol of said plurality of protocols, and determining a value of a response signal on the control line, and if the value is according to the first protocol, selecting the first protocol in step b), and if the response is not according to the first protocol, selecting another protocol in step b) and/or emitting a further test signal according to a second protocol of said plurality of protocols, and determining a value of a response signal on the control line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second device is configured to perform the switching between the listening and the steering mode automatically, and wherein the second device is programmed to enter automatically in the listening mode when the device is powered-on and a value indicates that the protocol still has to be selected.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a driver configured for driving a load of the luminaire system, the load being any one of a light source, a sensing means, a communication device, an output means, an input means, a dispensing means, a human-interface device, and wherein the second device is a controller configured for controlling the driver; and/or
 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises a plurality of different dimming protocols comprising an analogue dimming protocol and a digital dimming protocol; and/or   wherein step a) comprises applying a current and measuring a voltage and/or applying a voltage and measuring a current.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a sensor and the second device is a controller; and/or wherein the second device is a driver configured for driving a load of the luminaire system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring at least one value comprises measuring a voltage on the control line and the listening mode is such that the impedance of the second device as seen from the control line is a high impedance; and/or
 wherein the step of measuring at least one value comprises measuring a voltage on the control line and the plurality of protocols comprises at least a first protocol associated with a first voltage range and a second protocol associated with a second voltage range, and the selecting is done by comparing the measured voltage with said first and second range.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining at least one value comprises determining multiple values, and wherein step b) comprises determining differences between the multiple values, and performing the step of selecting based on the determined differences; and/or
 wherein the second device comprises measurement circuitry for performing step a); and/or   wherein the method comprises, after performing step a), a step of controlling an internal power supply of the second device to power the control line; and/or   wherein the plurality of protocols is a plurality of communications protocols.   
     
     
         11 . A device of a luminaire system intended for being connected to at least an other device via a control line, wherein said device is configurable to send and/or receive signals through said control line to/from the other device using any one of a plurality of different protocols, and wherein the other device is configured to use one of the plurality of different protocols, wherein the device is configured to control the following steps:
 a) determining at least one value representative for a characteristic of the other device as seen from the control line; and   b) based on the measured at least one value, selecting a corresponding protocol of said plurality of protocols; and configuring the device to use the selected corresponding protocol;   wherein the device comprises switching circuitry configured to switch the device between a listening mode and a steering mode, said listening mode being a mode in which the impedance of the device as seen from the control line allows performing the determining of step a) and said steering mode being such that signals in accordance with the selected protocol can be exchanged between the device and the other device, and wherein the device is configured to put itself in the listening mode for performing step a) and to put itself in the steering mode after step a).   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the determining comprises listening for an electric signal on the control line and determining at least one value for a characteristic of said electric signal; and/or
 wherein step a) comprises emitting a test signal according to a first protocol of said plurality of protocols, and determining a value of a response signal on the control line, and if the value is according to the first protocol, selecting the first protocol in step b), and if the response is not according to the first protocol, selecting another protocol in step b) and/or emitting a further test signal according to a second protocol of said plurality of protocols, and determining a value of a response signal on the control line; and/or   wherein the plurality of protocols is a plurality of communications protocols.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the device is configured to perform the switching between the listening and the steering mode automatically, wherein the device is programmed to enter automatically in the listening mode when the device is powered-on when a value indicates that the protocol still has to be selected.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a controller configured for being connected through the control line to a driver and for controlling the driver; and/or
 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises a plurality of different dimming protocols, comprising an analogue dimming protocol and a digital dimming protocol.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a controller configured for communicating with a sensor through the control line; or
 wherein the device is a driver configured for driving a load of the luminaire system.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , comprising circuitry configured for applying a current and measuring a voltage and/or for applying a voltage and measuring a current. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , comprising circuitry configured for applying a current and measuring a voltage and/or for applying a voltage and measuring a current, wherein the circuitry is configured for measuring a voltage on the control line;
 wherein the listening mode is such that the impedance of the device as seen from the control line is a high impedance.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , comprising circuitry configured for applying a current and measuring a voltage and/or for applying a voltage and measuring a current, wherein the circuitry is configured for measuring a voltage on the control line, wherein the plurality of protocols comprises at least a first protocol associated with a first voltage range and a second protocol associated with a second voltage range, and the selecting is done by comparing the measured voltage with said first and second range. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of protocols comprises a plurality of different dimming protocols, comprising an analogue dimming protocol and a digital dimming protocol, and wherein the device is configured for setting an analogue dimming protocol if the measured voltage is above a predetermined second threshold; and for setting a DALI dimming protocol if the measured voltage is below a predetermined first threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than or equal to the first threshold;
 wherein step b) comprises, if the measured voltage is above a predetermined first threshold and below a predetermined second threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold, setting an analogue dimming protocol; if the measured voltage is above the second threshold or below the first threshold, setting a DALI protocol, wherein optionally, if the measured voltage is below the first threshold, the second device connects the control line to an internal power supply so that the control line is powered.   
     
     
         20 . A device of a luminaire system intended for being connected to at least an other device via a control line, wherein said device is configurable to send and/or receive signals through said control line to/from the other device using any one of a plurality of different protocols, wherein the other device is configured to use one of the plurality of different protocols, and wherein the device is configured to control the following steps:
 a) determining at least one value representative for a characteristic of the other device as seen from the control line; and   b) based on the measured at least one value, selecting a corresponding protocol of said plurality of protocols; and configuring the device to use the selected corresponding protocol,   wherein the device is a controller configured for communicating with a sensor through the control line.